Study/Travel Abroad Health Insurance

Background: Effective with the Fall Semester 2002, the Board of Regents has mandated that all University of Wisconsin students studying/traveling abroad under a UW sponsored program must enroll in health insurance through an insurance plan offered by Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI). A work team selected CISI after a long review and selection process, assisted by the State's insurance broker. The CISI brochure and claim form are available on-line, as well as through the program office, or through the Office of Risk Management, 21 N. Park Street, Suite 6101. CISI coverage provides primary health protection up to $200,000, with no deductible and medical evacuation and repatriation coverage up to $50,000. Consult the brochure for specific coverage details. The premium is $37, per month effective August 1, 2008. Departments should include the premium in the program fee, or individuals can enroll directly through this office, if not part of a larger program group. In all cases, the premium is due, in full, prior to departure from the US.

This program is also available to faculty and staff who are involved in educational programs abroad. Family members are not eligible. However, employees may be eligible for benefits under Workers Compensation, while in the course of their employment, regardless of the location of the worksite. Individual employees may also have coverage through their own health insurer, and should confirm this with their carrier, before contacting our office. Also, employees in work status while involved in educational pursuits abroad, have medical evacuation and repatriation through the MEDEX program.

Enrollment: Program Offices will need the following information in order to complete the individual student's enrollment: program name, destination, full name, including middle initial; start date, stop date, # months of coverage, date of birth, and gender. Months are defined as 30 days. Partial months are counted as a full month's charge.

This is a link to an excel file, which can be modified for use by each program office: "Madison campus" can be changed to reflect the individual program office or program name, etc. Once completed for an individual program, the reports must be filed electronically with Debbie Beich, along with an e-mail note including the funding string (i.e. fund/account/udds code) for that program. There should be a separate report for each program and funding source. Once we receive the report, we will forward the enrollment electronically to CISI and charge the premium accordingly.

Individual Enrollment: If you are not part of a formal group which has collected premiums as part of your programming fees, or if you are traveling on your own for study abroad, you should complete the Enrollment form and forward it, along with your check, payable to the UW System Board of Regents.

Likewise, if you are a faculty or staff member traveling abroad for educational pursuits, you are eligible to enroll using the same form. If you deliver the form to Risk Management at 21 N. Park Street, Suite 6101, you can pick up your enrollment card, otherwise it will be mailed to you.

If you have questions, contact Debbie Beich at Risk Management for information.


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